Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers

June 17, 2013

Among the mountain of budget-related measures lawmakers approved last week, two paragraphs in the voluminous Assembly Bill 76 call for greater scrutiny of "additional appointments" and the policy that fueled them.

The measure requires the Department of Human Resources make regular reports to the Legislature on employees who hold two or more jobs in state government. The State Personnel Board would also have to make a report to the Legislature about the obscure, loosely-written policy manual departments leaned on to justify the practice.

The measure, now awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's signature, is the latest turn in a series of events triggered by Bee reports that showed how the once-obscure policy allowed California state employees -- including salaried managers -- to take a second hourly-wage job within their same department.

A measure died in committee last month that would have prohibited salaried state employees from taking a second hourly-wage position within their same department or agency. The bill's Republican author, Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, said at the time he hoped lawmakers would enact similar legislation as part of the budget.

(12) Existing law establishes the Department of Human Resources in state government to operate the state civil service system in accordance with Article VII of the California Constitution, the Government Code, the merit principle, and applicable rules duly adopted by the State Personnel Board. Existing law requires that civil service positions be filled by appointment, except as provided.

This bill would require the Department of Human Resources to submit reports to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and certain fiscal committees of the Legislature, by November 30, 2013, and November 30, 2014, regarding additional appointments held by state employees, as specified. The bill would also require, by November 30, 2013, the State Personnel Board to submit a report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and certain fiscal committees of the Legislature regarding the policies and practices included in the Personnel Management Policy and Procedures Manual, as specified.

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About The State Worker

The Author

Jon Ortiz launched The State Worker blog and a companion column in 2008 to cover state government from the perspective of California government employees. Every day he filters the news through a single question: "What does this mean for state workers?" Join Ortiz for updates and debate on state pay, benefits, pensions, contracts and jobs. Contact him at (916) 321-1043 and at jortiz@sacbee.com.

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